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Have you ever wondered why Laguna has an abundance of homes and businesses that are art forms in themselves? From beach cottages to contemporary commercial venues, many say well designed structures are due to architects and builders inspired by magnificent views of the Pacific...

“Don’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you got till it’s gone They paved paradise and put up new sidewalks” –with apologies to Joni Mitchell There is one thing for certain. Everything eventually comes to an end. That certainty is particularly disquieting for...

“And go ’round and ’round and ’round in the circle game.” –Joni Mitchell Change and transition are part of life. Family and friends become ill, and sometimes a chapter closes in our lives. Many of my contemporaries are talking about collecting their...

A close friend once told me, “When you write from the heart, the story will flow naturally.” The unprecedented outpouring of Laguna’s love and concern for William McMurray and his family is a heartfelt story. From bake sales, garage sales, and lemonade stand sales, to larger...

Unsolicited Campaign Advice The big secret to winning elections is to get more votes than your opponent. –Jesse Helms As an interested party (not to be mistaken as a candidate or a Tea Party member) during Laguna’s biennial silly season (the City Council election), I...

A Meditation With Roots “I always think of my sins when I weed. They grow apace in the same way and are harder still to get rid of.” –Helena Rutherfurd Ely Years ago at an undergraduate horticulture class, I attended a lecture, which reviewed the best management practices of...

Good Neighbors Use Shears “On most of the lists of things to worry about (is) the unrestrained growth of plastic plants.” – with apologies to Lewis Thomas Have you noticed how much taller and fuller your neighbors’ vegetation have become? Likely so, because now its...

A Night at Design Review “When I am dead, I hope it is said, “His sins were scarlet, but his columns were read.” –with apologies to Hillaire Belloc One of the pleasures of living in Laguna is greeting friends and acquaintances whilst walking, shopping, or gossiping during...

Debating History “Old is not necessarily historic.” Ilse Lenschow, DRB member “A replica is not heritage… it does not have a connection to history.” Mayor Jane Egly Preservation of Laguna’s historic resources is important and well meaning local organizations...

No Mystery Behind the Missing Blooms “Give a lot, expect a lot, and if you don’t get it, prune. –Thomas J. Peters Who doesn’t love the way tree aloes brighten Laguna gardens this time of year? The species, Aloe arborescens, is unrivaled for its magnificent red-orange...

Caring for a Legacy “Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them.” –Bill Vaughan Somewhere walking between Eagle Rock and Main Beach on Thanksgiving morning, it occurred to me not for the first time that it is the...